Strawberry plant named `Tamar`

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of strawberry (Fragaria L.) called `Tamar` is a cross between `Oso Grande` and `Dorit`, and flowers &#34;very early to early&#34; on a scale of &#34;very early&#34; to &#34;very late&#34;.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry (Fragaria L.) called `Tamar`.

BACKGROUND

This new variety was developed from an organized scientifically designated breeding program, carried out at the Agricultural Research Organization, the Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel. This new variety originated as a single seedling selected from a seedling population obtained from crosses between the strawberry varieties `Oso Grande` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,578) and `Dorit` and was asexually vegetatively propagated at Bet Dagan, Israel, through runners and the propagation ran true.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety `Tamar` is able to grow in September and produce fruit starting in November and lasting until summer. The production of fruit beginning in November (Northern Hemisphere, latitude 30-33 degrees) is two months earlier than short day varieties of Fragaria L. known to applicants. The fruit of the `Tamar` variety is characterized by good taste, good shape and good size.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1: Photograph of the `Tamar` variety, illustrating the fruits.

FIG. 2: Photograph of the `Tamar` variety, illustrating a cross-section of the fruits.

FIG. 3: Photograph of the `Tamar` variety, illustrating the entire plant with foliage, flowers and fruit.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The `Tamar` variety was grown in winter, under polyethylene tunnels in Israel. `Tamar` is an infra short day variety flowering earlier than short days type strawberry varieties. Infra-Short-Day (I.S.D) varieties are defined as varieties which initiate flower bud primordia under long light regimes of 13-14 hours at the time that temperatures are about 22° C., compared to strawberry types classified as short-day or day-neutral, that do not initiate flower bud primordia under above-mentioned conditions, thus resulting in early flowering and fruit production. The plants are grown in polyethylene tunnels to prevent malformation of the fruit that can be caused by wind and rain. Flowering and fruit production are not affected by the use of polyethylene tunnels.

This production procedure is utilized in normal agricultural practices by the skilled artisan and does not involve temperature or light control. Plants were stored at 0° C. January through April. They were then planted in the nursery without further treatment. Runners with plantlets were produced during summer. These young plantlets were collected from the nursery in September and transferred to raised beds. Average temperatures at that time of the year are 30° C. during the day and 22° C. at night. Water and fertilizers were applied through drip irrigation.

An example of an optimum planting date is between September 5 and 15, with the approximate date of flowering on October 5-15, and the approximate date of first fruiting on November 5-15. Flowering is not induced by chilling, but by natural exposure to short day length (long nights) characteristic of late fall and early winter.

Strawberry plants in general are self-fertile, as is `Tamar`; no pollinator is needed as pollination is brought about by insects and wind.

Color readings described herein were taken under natural light conditions and color identifications were made by reference to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.C.C.) except where common terms of color definition are employed.

The pertinent characteristics of the present invention are presented in Table 1 and Table 2. Additionally, the variety `Tamar` (1) has no tendency toward fruit malformation; (2) disease resistance appears normal in that no particular problematic conditions arose during trials; and (3) the type of bearing is not remontant, i.e. `Tamar` blooms continuously during late fall and winter.

Fruit shape of `Tamar` is similar to the strawberry variety `Dorit` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,869). The fruit is longer than broad, with primary, secondary and tertiary fruit possessing almost similar shape (Table 2). The fruit is of medium firmness with a red color (Table 2).

The variety `Tamar` flowers two months earlier than known short-day strawberry varieties. A close known variety would be `Dorit` U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,869 (Table 1); also see the new varieties mentioned in: U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,881 (`Sharon`); U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,876 (`Shalom`); U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,865 (`Smadar`); U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,746 (`Ofra`); U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,748 (`Virginia`); U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,747 (`Nama`). Additionally, early flowering results in early fruit production. Total Soluble Solids (T.S.S), percent acidity, aroma evaluation and taste are presented in Table 4, by comparing to the varieties listed in Table 3.

                  TABLE 1                                                          ______________________________________                                         PLANT CHARACTERISTICS OF TAMAR                                                 MORPHOLOGICAL                                                                  TRAIT                                               DESCRIPTION                ______________________________________                                         Classification      Botanical                                                                      Fragaria L. Plant                                          1)  Height                                         16-19 cm                    2)  Diameter                                    31-34 cm                       3)  Habit                                           Globose                    4)  Density                                       Dense                        5) Vigor                                              Medium                   Leaf:                                                                          1)  Length                                         21-23 cm                    2)  Width                                           14-16 cm                   3)  Green color of Upper Side                                                                                Medium RHS ca. 147 AB                            4)  Blistering                                 Medium                          5)  Cross section                           Concave                            6) No. of leaflets                        Sometimes >3                         Petiole                                                                        1) Length                                           12-14 cm                   2) Thickness                                     3-4 mm                        3) Pubescence                                   Medium                         4) Green Color                                 Light RHS ca. 144 B             Terminal leaflet                                                               1) Length/Width ratio                                                                                                  Longer that broad                      2) Shape of base                             Obtuse                            3) Shape of Teeth                           Rounded                            4) Length                                           5-8 cm                     5) Width                                             5-7 cm                    Calyx                                                                          1) Diameter of Primary Calyx                                                                                  30-50 mm                                        2) Diameter of Secondary Calyx                                                                               30-42 mm                                         3) Diameter of Tertiary Calyx                                                                                 20-30 mm                                        4) Size of Inner Calyx in                                                                          same size                                                     relation to Outer Calyx                                                     Flower                                                                         1) Diameter of Primary Flower                                                                                25-30 mm                                         2) Diameter of Secondary Flower                                                                             22-29 mm                                          3) Diameter of Tertiary Fiower                                                                               21-28 mm                                         4) Spacing of petals                                                                                                    Overlapping                           5) Petal length                               11-12 mm                         6) Petal width                                 10-16 mm                        7) Petal length/width                                                                                                  Broader than long                      8) Time of beginning of flowering                                                                         Very early to early                                 9) Fragrance                                    None                           Stolon                                                                         1) Number per Plant                       ca. 15                               2) Thickness                                     3.5-4 mm                      3) Pubescence                                   Weak                           4) Anthocyanin coloration                                                                                          Absent or very weak                        Inflorescence                                                                  1) Position relative to foliage                                                                              Above                                            2) Peduncle length                         ca. 11 cm                           3) Peduncle thickness                                                                                                  ca. 3 mm                               4) Peduncle color                           Light green RHS ca. 144C           5) Peduncle pubescence                                                                                                medium dense                            ______________________________________                                    

The description of `Tamar` is based on the test guidelines for Fragaria L. of the International Union for the Protection of New Plant Varieties (UPOV). Only characteristics which are relevant for comparing varieties are listed; for example, there are no varietal differences acknowledged in the characteristic "color of lower side of leaf".

The Time of beginning of Flowering is scaled as from "very early" to "very late". "Very early" is defined as approximately the first week of October under the prevailing conditions, while "very late" is defined as approximately the first week of December. `Tamar` is scaled as "very early to early", while `Dorit` is between "very early to early" and "early", and `Oso Grande` is "late to very late".

Strawberry plants have dichotome inflorescences, thus producing one primary, two secondary and four tertiary flowers per inflorescence. Flowers of higher order do not normally produce commercial fruit.

                  TABLE 2                                                          ______________________________________                                         FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS OF TAMAR                                                 CHARACTERISTIC      DESCRIPTION                                                ______________________________________                                         Time of first ripening                                                                             Very early to early                                        Primary Fruit                                                                  1) Length                                           50-57 mm                   2) Width                                           45-60 mm                    3) Shape                                             Conical                   4) Weight                                           ca. 45 g                   Secondary Fruit                                                                1) Length                                           48-55 mm                   2) Width                                             38-43 mm                  3) Shape                                             Conical                   4) Weight                                           ca. 34 g                   Tertiary Fruit                                                                 1) Length                                           44-51 mm                   2) Width                                             35-37 mm                  3) Shape                                             Conical                   4) Weight                                           ca. 24 g                   Fruit                                                                          Band without achenes                                                                                                  narrow                                  Unevenness of surface                                                                                                Absent or very weak                      Color                                                 Red 44A                  Evenness of color                         Even                                 Glossiness                                       Strong                        Insertion of achenes                                                                                                  Level with surface                      Insertion of calyx                       In a basin                            Pose of calyx segments                                                                                             Clasping or detached                       Size of calyx in relation                                                                          Smaller or larger                                          to fruit diameter                                                              Adherence of calyx                       Strong                                Firmness                                          Medium                       Color of Flesh                               Orange red 43B                    Evenness of flesh color                                                                                            Uneven                                     Sweetness                                         Strong                       Acidity                                             Medium                     ______________________________________                                    

The Time of first Ripening, approximately one month after beginning of flowering, is scaled as from "very early" to "very late". "Very early" is defined as approximately the first week of November, while "very late" is defined as approximately the first week of January. `Tamar` is scaled as "very early to early", while `Dorit` is between "very early to early" and "early", and `Oso Grande` is "late to very late". The shape of `Tamar` fruit is similar to that of the variety `Dorit`.

                  TABLE 3                                                          ______________________________________                                         COMPARATIVE YIELD OF TAMAR.sup.a                                               November    December January February                                                                              March April                                ______________________________________                                            Tamar                                                                                       60       60    80     120   120                                Dorit                 70       100                                                                                  100                                                                                  100                                                                                 100                            Ofra                  60             100                                                                                  100                                                                                 100                            Chandler                                                                                               0 0                                                                                   30                                                                                   150                                                                                  150                                                                                 120                            ______________________________________                                                             Note:                                                       .sup.a Average yield in g/m.sup.2, in Ramat Hadar, Israel.               

The time of beginning of ripening for `Tamar` fruit is near the end of November. The time of ripening for `Ofra` (infra short day U.S Plant Pat. No. 8,746) fruit is "very early". The time of ripening for `Dorit` infra short day U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,869, fruit is between "very early to early" and "early". The time of ripening for `Chandler` short-day U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,262, fruit is "very late".

                  TABLE 4                                                          ______________________________________                                         COMPARATIVE FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS OF TAMAR                                            T.S.S..sup.a                                                                           Acidity.sup.b                                                                          Aroma.sup.c                                                                              Taste                                         ______________________________________                                         Tamar    9.5-11.0  1.1     5       Very good                                   Dorit          8.5-9.5                                                                                            5                                                                                      Good                                Ofra            8.0-9.5                                                                                           4                                                                                      Good                                Chandler    6.5-7.5                                                                                               4                                                                                      Slightly acidic                     ______________________________________                                          Notes:                                                                         .sup.a Total Soluble Solids (Sugars) expresses fruit sweetness and was         determined with a refractometer; for strawberry fruit a T.S.S. of 14.0 is      very sweet, while below 6.5 is not sweet.                                      .sup.b Percent of acidity was determined as follows: 2 cc of juice extrac      was mixed with 20 cc of water. Five drops of phenolphthalein were added        and the mixture was titrated with NaOH. The percent acidity is calculated      as the quantity of NaOH (cc) × 0.32.                                     .sup.c The aroma value is a subjective expression obtained by tasting,         using a scale from 1 (no aroma) to 5 (strong aroma).                      

What is claimed is:
 1. A new distinct variety of strawberry plant substantially as illustrated and described and distinguished as being able to grow in September and produce fruit starting in November and lasting until summer, with fruit having a good taste and shape. 